Episode 53, Friedrich Nietzsche (Part II - Thus Spoke Zarathustra)

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), a man who suffered greatly from
bodily ills, considered himself somewhat of a physician. Yet, his
remedies were not aimed towards physical conditions of the body,
but rather the personal and societal ills of his time. Nietzsche,
often poetically and rhetorically, dissected what he perceived to
be the root of the suffering or apathy many of his contemporaries
were facing.

His diagnosis focussed primarily on the human tendency to deny
life. Life denying, for Nietzsche, came in many ways: the
asceticism of the Buddha or Arthur Schopenhauer, the herd-like
mentality of what Nietzsche called “the Last Man”, and most
famously – the otherworldly illusions of Christianity. To him,
these were all attempts to cower in the face of an objectively
indifferent reality.

Nietzsche’s prognosis? To stand in the face of this indifference
and shout yes! To affirm life and strive for personal excellence.
How he envisioned this is subject to much scholarly debate but
Nietzsche provides certain clear themes over his prolific
authorship.

His masterwork Thus Spoke Zarathustra suggests we
should look forward to the “Ubermensch” or “Superman”, a
spiritually healthier individual who approaches the world in an
honest and fearless way. Similarly, continuing his claim from
The Gay Science, Thus Spoke Zarathustra also
reminds the reader that “God is dead”. Nietzsche wanted people to
recognise the void in values left by God’s absence and the
responsibility we have been given to create our own meaning.

Nietzsche’s legacy is an interesting one. Thus Spoke
Zarathustra, along with the Bible, ironically, were given to
German soldiers during the First World War. He also, after his
death, was accused of being a proto-Nazi due to his sister’s
influence over his final posthumous works.

Nietzsche’s thoughts on his own works are remarkable in their
irony and grandiosity. He hoped his messages would strike a chord
with people and force them to look deep into their own intentions
and actions. He also hoped they would provide a basis for personal
change.

A passage from Ecce Homo gives us an insight into his
style and desired effect:

“I know my fate. One day my name will be associated with the
memory of something tremendous — a crisis without equal on earth,
the most profound collision of conscience, a decision that was
conjured up against everything that had been believed, demanded,
hallowed so far. I am no man, I am dynamite.”

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A weekly 'informal and informative' philosophy podcast inspiring and supporting students, teachers, academics and free-thinkers worldwide. All episodes are available at www.thepanpsycast.com.